Like those in the 18th century who appreciated archaeological discoveries of classical antiquity, I try to make art using authentic materials and methods from the same time. Oh yeah, and sometimes I use humor.

Monday, April 13, 2009

This weekend, I started a new ambitious project based on a personification of 'Spring' in El Djem (Tunisia, second century Roman portraiture), but pictures aren't ready to go walking just yet. So instead, here is a boring sea shell work in marbles I did for my bath area about a year and a half ago.

It's weird to wonder whether most sea shells looked exactly the same 2000 years ago. Maybe they seemed larger because people were proportionately smaller? Jack Handey also mentions that probably the earliest flyswatters were nothing more than a striking surface attached to some sort of stick, but I digress.

Here is the same mosaic In-Situ (academic-sounding fancy-talk for 'installed').

Nidal, thanks I love the idea that artwork made in stone can last for thousands of years.

LOL, as usual Mo, you bring a unique perspective to the equation. I'm not sure, but I also might subscribe to the Scott Adams (Dilbert) law of gravity. He proposes that since everything in the universe is expanding, it keeps our feet on the ground.

Lopez, thanks! Unless I mention otherwise (like on the Sarah Alexander post), all displayed artwork is mine. You should try it, at least get hold of some mosaic glass or stone, way fun! Cool you noticed that, if you run 'andamento' outline around the outside of the object, it does have a freaky movement effect. That's how the Romans did it and that's how I roll. Wait, at least about the art stuff, not all the gladatorial combat, crucifixions and stuff.